MINOS-EURONET is devoted to stimulating, encouraging and facilitating the participation of New Member States (NMS) and the Associated Candidate Countries (ACC) in the activities of IST. The proposal has a pan-European focus on one strategic objective in IST, namely micro- and nanosystems. In strictly conformity with the call, the proposal is addressing the following objectives: (1) Revealing and promoting the research competences from NMS and ACC, namely competences which are relevant for the development of the field of micro-nanosystems at the European scale; (2) Facilitating the participation of NMS and ACC organisations to EU programmes and other activities in the field of micro-nanosystems; (3) Performing extensive networking at the pan-European scale in the field of micro-nanosystems.
The proposal is put forward by 18 partners. The backbone of this powerful consortium is constituted by the Western research organisations which are coordinators of 8 other big projects in FP6. This cluster is totalling 159 different organisations, which provides a critical mass for pan European networking. This cluster of 8 independent projects is covering a broad spectrum of technologies and applications, requiring broad multidisciplinary science and engineering and displaying an exciting potential of cooperation for NMS and ACC. Activities, organized in four work packages for support activities devoted, respectively, to (i) extensive networking, using an integrated communication platform; (ii) creation, maintenance, promotion and linking of databases of researchers, research and industrial organisations, enhancing the visibility of potential partners from NMS and ACC and promoting participation to EU programmes; (iii) the organisation, with the same purpose of brokerage events and seminars, primarily in NMS and ACC, (iv) organisation of three annual editions of a new European research conference devoted to “Microsystems as a platform for integrating technologies”.
The characteristic of this project is given by the presence in the project consortium of eight coordinators of big FP6 projects. 5 NoEs and 2 IPs (mostly from IST) are involved. These projects are representing a very powerful cluster, providing a unique pool of potential connections for the human resources in NMS and ACC. A short description of the projects is given bellow.
GOSPEL (General Olfaction and Sensing Projects on a European Level), NoE in priority 2, IST.Scientific and technological area: Artificial olfaction: Gas sensor systems realized in MSTechnology; nanostructured sensitive layers; innovative bio-inspired data analysis; integration of electronics with the sensors; microsystem packaging. Application domain: Quantitative assessment of gases and odors; Understanding of the biological sense of smell and mimic its relevant functions. Expected implications: A landscape of European capability in artificial olfaction; identification of services required by industry, development of the offering and putting in place the necessary legal and organisational structures to implement them. GOSPEL will develop multi-disciplinary approaches to this subject through a comprehensive training and exchange programme .
PATENT-dfmm (Design for Micro & Nano Manufacture), NoE, in priority 2, IST.Scientific and technological area: Micro & Nanosystem Technologies. Application domain: Micro and nanotechnology based products. Expected implications: Major advances in the performance of communications, transportation and control systems, radical improvements in the accuracy and sensitivity of environmentally sensed data, bio-chemical devices awaited with the potential to improve healthcare and medicine; solving key challenges in the fields of modeling and simulation, test, reliability and package engineering; creation of a “Virtual Institute” for Design for Micromanufacture Methodology DfMM research for M&NT based products.
AMICOM (Advanced MEMS for RF and Millimeter Wave Communications), NoE in priority 2, IST. Scientific and technological area: Micro and Nano Systems. Application domain: Micro and Nano Systems; Mobile and Wireless Systems; safety of road. Expected implications: AMICOM will solve major technological issues; will develop a generic platform of knowledge to assess smart systems for advanced information and communication applications. The microsystems will feature innovative functionalities, such as circuit redundancy, reconfigurability and power management.
GOOD FOOD (Food Safety and Quality with Microsystems), IP in priority 2, IST. Scientific and technological area: Micro and Nanotechnology (MST and M&NT): Micro fluidic system for residue concentration; Integrated optical sensor combined with smart CMOS camera detector; Gas sensors array based on metal oxide and cantilevers; Single chip array of gas sensors on micro machined membranes; Electronic tongue. Application domain: Food safety and quality: fast antibiotics residues screening; Pesticide detection; detection of toxigenic fungi using molecular markers (DNA); Detection of Food borne pathogens; Multisensing Microsystems integration for food control. Expected implications: Developing the new generation of analytical methods based on Micro and Nanotechnology (MST and M&NT) solutions for the safety and quality of food.
HEALTHY AIMS (Nano scale materials and sensors and microsystems for medical implants improving health and quality of life), IP in priority 2, IST.Scientific and technological area: Technologies involved: RF Communications and power source for implanting into the human; Biocompatible materials; Micro-electrodes; Micro-assembly techniques, Sensors and actuators to fit inside the body. Application domain: New implantable medical devices: Cochlear implant; Retina implant and glaucoma sensor; FES for upper and lower limbs; Artificial intra-urethral sphincter; Sphincter sensor; Intracranial pressure sensor for long term implant (>10 years). Expected implications: Usage of microsystems and nanotechnology in the medical sector, thus ultimately improving the quality of life for citizens across Europe.
4M (Material Micro Manufacture: Technologies and Applications), NoE in priority 3, NMP. Scientific and technological area: Micro- and Nano- Technology. Application domain: New generation of sensors, actuators and systems for safety and security of people and environment. Expected implications: Development of Micro-and Nano-Technology (MNT) for batch-manufacture of micro-components and devices into user-friendly production equipment, processes and manufacturing platforms. 4M will unify the currently fragmented European R&D expertise on non-silicon microtech into a European Centre for MNT process and product development.
Nano2Life ( Bringing NANOtechnologies TO LIFE), NoE, priority 3, NMP. Scientific and technological area: Nanobiotechnology area of complex and integrated novel sensor technologies. Application domain: Health care, pharmaceuticals, environment, security, food safety, etc. The network support the development of nanoparticles and nanofluidics handling, integrated systems: cells, lab-on-chip. Expected implications: To make Europe a leader in nanobiotechnology transfer, to keep Europe as a competitive partner the field of nanobiotechnology. Nano2Life intends to tackle fragmentation, to durably integrate organizations, to interface two worlds: nano and bio, to translate science into economic benefits and educate society about nanobiotech.
ASSEMIC (Advanced Methods and Tools for Handling and Assembly in Microtechnology), Training by Research Network, Marie Curie actions. Scientific and technological area: Micro-handling and –assembly: New tools and systems for ultra precision positioning accuracy (micro- and nano-range); Industrial production issues and manufacturability of assembled MEMS. Application domain: Assembly of MEMS; biological applications. Expected implications: The development of a number of system and tools prototypes for handling and assembly in MST, various micro grippers and a haptic interface device for telemanipulation; enhancement of the quality of European research training in the field of Micro-handling and assembly.
These projects, tightly connected to the MINOS project (see also section B.3) were selected for their connection with certain application domains such as health (Healthy Aims ), food industry (Good Food), environment and security (GOSPEL), communications (AMICOM), which are connected to priorities and needs of NMS and ACC. Moreover, another factor was their connection to new materials in microtechnologies (4M), micro-nano (PATENT), nano-bio (Nano2Life) and micro-nano-bio (ASSEMIC) focus. The orientation towards mixed technologies, or converging technologies (see above) will be an important feature of the activity. Extremely representative for this evolution it is the presence in the above cluster of two NoEs from NMP, namely 4M and Nano2Life, whereas two others: Nanofun-Poly and Inside-Pores accepted to be associated to the above cluster. So did also SENSATION, an IP from IST (again micro-nanosystems).
